President Barack Obama has urged nations to reject authoritarianism and embrace more open societies.

In his final speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Obama said the kind of thinking that favors "the strong man" over true democracy is wrong.

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He said economies can only grow so much in the 21st century before they will have no choice but to open up to give entrepreneurs access to information or to allow independent media to operate. Obama said democracy is hard work and takes generations, but that the gains are worth the effort.

Obama added that without evolving in the direction of democracy, people's expectations will go unmet, suppression and stagnation will set in and strongmen will be left to crack down on their societies or scapegoat enemies, leading to war.

Obama told world leaders that a paradox defines the world today as the world is by many measures less violent and more prosperous than ever before, but he said that people are losing trust in institutions, which makes governing more difficult.

Obama said world leaders can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration, or they can retreat into a world that is sharply divided and ultimately in conflict.